What's Next for DC's Gun Laws?: ...It's time for Congress to use the power granted to it in the Constitution to "exercise exclusive legislation" in the District and uphold its residents' constitutional rights. It can do so by passing the District of Columbia Personal Protection Act now pending in Congress, with a few adjustments. This bill, introduced on July 31 with 57 cosponsors, would prevent D.C. from passing regulations that discourage the private lawful use of firearms or otherwise suppress residents' Second Amendment rights. It is the result of a compromise between the National Rifle Association and House leaders. To ensure broad-based, bipartisan support, we propose four modest congressional actions that would preserve some home-rule authority while erecting a commonsense framework for restoring the right to self-defense in our nation's capital... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121815356981022475.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries --- Time for Federal Mandate of CCW Reciprocity?: ...As a conservative, I hold state's rights in the highest regard and believe that federal intrusion on state issues has only diminished the level of real self-government in this country (we saw this clearly with abortion in Roe vs. Wade). In truth, I abhor federal intrusion. But in the case of concealed carry licenses, it is already a federal issue; for it is ultimately the federal government, not the states, that decides who will and who will not receive a permit through the work of the FBI. Therefore, why not push them to go all the way and mandate uniformity in reciprocity that accords with the tenets of the 2nd Amendment? Were this to happen, the woman at the stoplight would still make it back to the hotel for a relaxing night and a call home to say goodnight to her children, even if she had to kill an attacker to do it. (To my knowledge, Oregon does not recognize permits from contiguous states. However, Oregon sheriffs may issue permits to residents of contiguous states; they must issue permits to qualified residents of their own counties.) http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27906 In the Meantime...: Article provides Ohio residents a guide to reciprocity and non-resident permits. Some of this information may be useful to residents of other states as well. http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/5885 --- McCarthy Would Require Background Checks to Work in Gun Shop: Offering the first significant gun legislation since the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling on the District of Columbia v. Heller, (the landmark case outlining the legality of gun laws) Representative Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4) has introduced a commonsense bill that tightens the criminal background check system by requiring background checks for all gun store employees and dealers. These background checks would likely be conducted through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and would ensure that people selling guns are not prohibited from buying guns because they don't meet the legal guidelines and criteria... http://www.antonnews.com/threevillagetimes/2008/08/08/opinion/mccarthy.html --- Democrats Support RKBA?: We recognize that the right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we will preserve Americans' continued Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation, but we know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne. We can work together to enact and enforce common-sense laws and improvements, like closing the gun show loophole, improving our background check system and reinstating the assault weapons ban, so that guns do not fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals. Acting responsibly and with respect for differing views on this issue, we can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children safe. http://blog.nysrpa.org/?p=1541 --- Morton Grove to Backtrack on Repeal of Handgun Ban?: As a pediatric nurse, Georgianne Brunner has seen firsthand what a gun fired even by accident can do to a child. That's at least part what's behind her efforts as a Morton Grove trustee to come up with more stringent local handgun regulations after the village board last month voted to repeal Morton Grove's 27-year-old handgun ban... At the very least Brunner would like for the village to have some kind of registration program. Ideally it would involve more than just a list of handgun owners, she said... http://www.pioneerlocal.com/mortongrove/news/1096999,mg-gunban-080708-s1.article --- It's for the Condors: The California condor, rescued from extinction in an elaborate and expensive recovery effort, has become tantamount to a zoo animal in the wild and can't survive on its own without a ban on lead ammunition across its vast western ranges, a scientific study has concluded...They must be frequently trapped, tested and treated for lead poisoning. They depend on man-made "feeding stations," a buffet of lead-free carcasses of rats, deer, stillborn calves and other animals, a practice that has damaged their ability to forage... http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-condors9-2008aug09,0,3845910.story --- Feminist Agenda Threatens RKBA: ... Family courts are notorious for issuing restraining orders based on one woman's unsupported request. The New Jersey Law Journal reported that an instructor taught judges to be merciless to husbands and fathers, saying, "Throw him out on the street, give him the clothes on his back, and tell him, 'See ya' around.'" People have a better chance to prove their innocence in traffic court than when subjected to a restraining order. Too often the order serves no legitimate purpose, but is just an easy way for one spouse to get revenge or the upper hand in a divorce or child custody dispute... Under feminist pressure, most courts have interpreted federal law broadly to deprive millions of men of their gun rights. However, in the Hayes case, a 2-1 majority on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had the courage to stand up to feminists and rule that Hayes had no fair warning that prosecutors would stretch the definition of domestic violence to include his minor offense... http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=71718 --- Why Leave Your Firearms at Home?: The city of Kingman will soon implement a policy change that will prohibit firearms in the City Complex at 310 N. Fourth St., including during City Council meetings. Gun lockers will be installed at the north entrance to the complex, providing a secure area for members of the public to store a weapon while conducting business or attending a Council meeting. The ban on firearms within the complex will take effect shortly after the lockers are installed, though it wasn't immediately clear how soon that would happen... (The lockers [or some other form of secure, on-site storage] are required by Arizona law if a public entity wishes to ban weapons. The misleading headline reminds us that journalism and education are the two most popular majors in the lower 50th percentile of American college students.) http://www.kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1&articleID=16879 --- Oops, Wrong House: Houston Police are investigating a shooting where a homeowner fought back and shot a suspected burglar. Investigators say, two men broke into a home on Pecan villas in southeast Houston. The homeowner heard the suspects. He grabbed his gun and shot at them. He hit one of the men. The injured suspect was taken to the hospital and is in serious condition. The other one was arrested. http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou080808_mp_burglar_shot.28b59d49.html --- Rule Five and Then Some: The man authorities suspect owned the gun a 12-year-old Queen Creek Middle School student took to school earlier this week was arrested Friday. Fernando Martinez-Cura, 37, was arrested by Maricopa County sheriff's deputies after admitting ownership of the weapon. Deputies also determined that Martinez-Cura, the boyfriend of the boy's grandmother, was living in the country illegally. On Wednesday, the boy brought a loaded 9 mm handgun to school because, he said, someone was picking on him. The boy was seen showing other students how to load the gun. The investigation determined that the boy most likely acquired the gun at his grandmother's house, where her boyfriend left it. Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Wednesday he suspected Martinez-Cura was an illegal immigrant, and that an arrest would be made because it is against the law for illegal immigrants to carry weapons. Martinez-Cura was jailed on suspicion of felony misconduct involving a weapon and on two outstanding warrants, according to sheriff's deputies. The 12-year-old boy may face felony charges of possession of a firearm and misdemeanor charges of endangerment, according to Arpaio. The boy's family of six may also face deportation because the father, mother and a 10-year-old sibling were also found to be in the country illegally. (Rule Five: Maintain control of your firearm. It is actually illegal for illegal aliens to possess firearms, much less carry them.) http://copshop.freedomblogging.com/2008/08/08/owner-of-gun-arrested-12-year-old-brings-gun-to-school/ --- NRA-ILA Alerts: Alerts for the week are posted on the NRA-ILA website. http://www.nraila.org/GrassrootsAlerts/read.aspx -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .